Reflections

So, as I write this, it is 10 days before I turn 28, which has come around far too quickly, as it seems like it was yesterday, I turned 27, yet it also feels like an age.

It being my birthday coming up, I have been more reflective of late, and honestly, although I appreciate my friends, and that I have the basics I need to live, I’m far from happy, I feel low all the time, with a mix of depression, anxiety, and wishing my transition wasn’t taking so long on the medical side (although the last year a decent amount has progress has been made, and currently waiting on HRT referrals etc), along with associated issues, along with a feeling of discontent, unfulfilled, and honestly like a failure, as I’m nowhere close to where I want to be in life. By now I would have at least have wished I had a masters degree, and working on a PhD, but I couldn’t make it past the first year at university, due to poor mental health leading to almost non-existent engagement with my course at the time, although despite how hard that was, I don’t regret going, as I wouldn’t have met some of my closest friends today without going to Lampeter and doing the degree when I did, I just wish I was able to complete it, but I haven’t been able to yet, I hope to one day, so I haven’t quite given up hope, although net time round will be harder to get into a uni for many reasons, but that’s a long way into the future.

 

But yeah, I didn’t think I’d be an overweight 28-year-old trans woman, anxious living in a bedsit flat (made worse by neighbours), that I struggle to upkeep due to the long-term effects of the depression has left me constantly exhausted, making everyday tasks use a lot of energy, and on benefits, trying to seek help with mental health, so I can move on with my life, and to make it worse, things happen to be in a constant cycle, and I’m fucking sick of it all. And worst of all, although I do still have my faith that has gotten me through a lot, its only a small ember right now, and is being smothered by the exhaustion of the constant onslaught of my mental health wearing me down, and I’m afraid of what the future will bring,

 

Also, living alone for the past couple of years hasn’t been easy, especially in the middle of a pandemic, is has been draining, and has had a negative effect, and has made me miss being part of a family, even more than usual, and doesn’t help that the friends I have, I’ve not been able to see regularly, and messaging is hard for a lot of them, and I’m not always the best at replying, so that doesn’t help things, so I am feeling more alone than ever right now, and I had hoped, If I hadn’t settled with anyone by now, I’d have some relationship experience by now, but thus far, everyone I’ve been interested in so far, and expressed as such, none have returned them (one not even getting a response from), so I only have a series of rejection, which totally taps into my childhood trauma of being abandoned, which is having a massive impact, (along with dysphoria, and my weight and fitness, as well as my general lack of progress), on my self-esteem, which is paying a big part in writing this rant-y essay.

 

Looking to the future is hard, as at the moment, it is hard to imagine life being easier or better, but I still hope that one day it will be, that I will find a partner, go back to uni, have some sort of family, and a stronger support system than I have now, although I deeply appreciate what I have, I need, and would like a more consistent group, in the future, not to replace what  have now, but an  improved version of what I have now, in terms of a support group.

 

So yeah, all of this and more is going on through my mind as I am approaching my birthday, which honestly is why I generally focus on making plans for my birthdays, not because I’m trying to be self-centred, but because I need the comfort, support, and distractions of being around friends, as I enter into the next year of my life, and without the support I do get from my friends I wouldn’t be where I am now so I am incredibly grateful to them. And I hope that some progress, and burdens lessen over the next year, and that next year I will have some reasons to be more hopeful about the future than I am currently. And honestly more than anything, aside from finding a partner, and family, and the obvious, what I’m craving right now, is a hug and more consistency with friends.

 

Anyway, thanks for reading this, and feel free engage with this post if you wish, and I know people will say that a lot of this is unfounded, and I shouldn’t feel this or that, and though I appreciate the sentiment, its not going to change how I feel, and that is why, with help, I am seeking mental health support, it’s just taking a long time, but hopefully one day ill get there.

Also, I’m not trying to criticise my friends, as they are busy and have their own lives too, and I know, acknowledge, respect and accept that, but this is my thoughts on this right now, at almost 2am, when my depression isn’t letting me sleep, and I’ve not seen a friend in around a month, and not likely to until 10 days’ time, so I’m feeling  more down, and isolated than usual, and I am writing this to vent somewhere instead of botting too much in side, so this small outburst of my inner thoughts and reflections I feel I needed to vent on.

 

Anyways, thanks again for reading, and I hope your all well,

Hugs, and love to all,

Natalie Xxx